It is a well-known fact that college students come in more contact with germs than any other demographic, but has anyone ever stopped to think just what these germs can do to your body aside from a flu or a cold? The immune system does a pretty great job of keeping germs and disease out, but sometimes it fails and germs attack the immune system, making it weak. When this happens your body is vulnerable and more susceptible to communicable diseases such as STDS, gastritis, strep throat, measles, whooping cough and mono. The list goes on and on. My recommendations are to steer clear of the germ domineer: wash hands after touching anything questionable, carry sanitizer, don’t share food, drinks, ChapStick, makeup etc. and always bundle up when going out into the cold. If an individual does get sick, they should always try to combat it immediately with medication, a healthy diet and plenty of sleep.
College students are always stressed out over assignments, rooming arrangements and the need to keep in contact with their loved ones. It is no secret that this stress can wane on relationships especially family, platonic and sexual relationships. Typically, when an individual comes to college, their significant other has gone to another college and this can be an immense challenge for the couple. There is constant wonder of what is he/she doing and whether or not they have met someone else. There are the difficulties of trying to keep a relationship together when the individuals are miles apart and their schedules hardly ever match up so there is little time for conversation and visiting. The stress of these problems usually causes a break up, but like with everything else, there are exceptions. When an individual enters into a sexual relationship with another, things can get complicated really quickly. There always seems to be a level of jealously and then a sense of anger. It is important to convert this anger into words, not actions.
It is also stressful for students to be away from their families, especially for some of the freshman who are not used to being on their own and are struggling to adjust to the culture shock that is college. My recommendation: When it comes to relationships, trust is a big make it or break it attribute. If it doesn’t exist, neither does a solid relationship. If an individual can’t get past the issues that come with long distance relationships, then maybe it isn’t for them and they should transfer or find someone else.
Sexual relationships are tricky as well. For many, it is hard to keep the relationship purely sexual with no feelings involved and this can be extremely frustrating. The best thing to do in this case is to have a conversation about how each of the participants feel. Lay it all on the table and be honest. The more on the table, the less stress each individual feels.
Speaking of stress, the one thing ailing all college students is deadlines. That’s right, deadlines. Deadlines are called deadlines because they are the death of someone. Everyone knows what it’s like to have an assignment due and there is no possible way to get it done and so the first thing we do is admit it aloud, “There is no way I will have this done, please kill me now.” My recommendation: don’t set yourself up to fail. If there is an assignment due at a specific time, plan ahead and get it done. If the assignment is broken up and completed in separate pieces on separate days, it becomes less of a hassle or burden and takes far less time and uses far less frustration.
Let’s discuss freedom. We get to college and have zero restraint and no one watching over us. Sounds pretty great, but when no one watches over us we seem to be forgetful: of assignments, manner, behavior and responsibilities. On the other side of the coin, just how much freedom do we really have? We have roommates that allow for little or no privacy. There are quiet hours, keys, locks and dorm hall rules as well as the student handbook, which is compiled of the rules of Plymouth State University. We still have to pick up after ourselves and handle our responsibilities. So when you think about it, there may be more leeway than before, but it is important to keep in mind that nothing can ever really ensure freedom and there are limitations to the concept.
Writing that last three pages well into the wee hours of the morning is the perfect example of sleep deprivation. As college students, our professors tell us that we should be dedicating three hours a night per class for homework and studying, but this clearly isn’t possible when a student has five classes. Many of us find ourselves working on assignments or studying until 12, 1, 2, 3, and sometimes 4 a.m. only to have the alarm clock rattle at 7 a.m., signaling the start of the cycle once again. Caffeine accompanies us throughout the day, keeping us awake and we begin to think, “Who needs sleep?” Sleep deprivation can lead to many serious health effects. You are aware of the slow responses of your body, the memory impairments, the stress on relationships and decreased alertness, but are you aware of the long-term effects? Continuous sleep deprivation can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack, heart failure, stroke, obesity, ADD, depression and mental impairment. My recommendation: get a good night’s sleep because assignments are important, but an individual’s health is vital. Study smart and use time effectively.
Time to address drinking and substance problems, which tend to go hand in hand. 40% of college students binge drink at least once a month (82% of college students drink alcohol). When an individual drinks, the liver, mind and respiratory system aren’t the only things being damaged. Research shows 3.36 million students drink and drive yearly, 696,000 people are assaulted by intoxicated students, 97,000 people are sexually assaulted by intoxicated students, and 1,825 students die from alcohol poisoning. About 90% of campus rapes are fueled by drugs and alcohol, 31% of students miss a class due to drugs and alcohol, and because of this dynamic duo, 159,000 freshman will drop out each year due to drug or alcohol abuse (Daily Infographic). My recommendation: people need to control themselves. Clearly, this is a problem. There are ways to get help-support centers, rehabs, families, PSU resources etc.
When an individual is constantly on the go, it is hard to concentrate on a healthy, balanced diet. Chips, candy and high fiber or protein bars are the easiest things to eat and store, but what are they doing to our bodies? There is a reason why the Freshman Fifteen is so infamous. When students come to a college, they eat things they never would have, or their mothers wouldn’t have allowed. The weight gain is inevitable if you eat poorly. Another diet issue some students face, more common in women, but affects men as well, is bulimia and anorexia. With anorexia, an individual refuses to eat for the fear of becoming fat or gaining weight. With bulimia, an individual binge eats. Both of these are highly damaging to the body. Anorexia causes fatigue, brittle nails, dizziness and menstrual irregularities whereas bulimia causes damaged teeth and gums, sores in the mouth, and abnormal bowel functioning. My recommendation: Try to get more healthy foods into the diet and utilize Prospect Hall or The Hub to make sure that the proper nutrition is entering the body. Both diseases can be treated with therapy and bulimia can be treated with antidepressants.
Depression affects everyone. With students, depression tends to stem from the desire to be great/beautiful/perfect and the individual feels they have failed. Depression takes over a person’s entire life, causing them to forget about their hygiene, nutrition and responsibilities. Depression is highly serious because it can lead to self harm and suicide. My recommendation: Seek help. There are many people willing to help. The Sage Center has counselors who are more than willing to help others in their time of need. Always talk to someone when you are feeling down.
The final ailment college students’ face is phobias. We all have them-Agoraphobia (fear of open spaces or of being in crowded, public places), Atychiphobia (fear of failure), Claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces) and Germophobia (fear of germs), it is important to respect others who have phobias. For those who do have phobias, try to overcome them and for those who can’t, try to deal with them to the best of your capabilities.